"He, Jupiter, to the human race Indulgent, prompts to necessary toil Man provident of life; with kindly signs The seasons marks, when best to turn the glebe With spade and plough, to nurse the tender plant, And cast o'er fostering earth the seeds abroad." Verses 27, 28. Four methods of threshing are here mentioned, by different instruments; the flail, the drag, the wain, and the treading of the cattle. The staff or flail was used for the infirmiora semina, says Jerome, the grain that was too tender to be treated in the other methods. The drag consisted of a sort of strong planks, made rough at the bottom, with hardstones or iron; it was drawn by horses or oxenover the corn sheaves spread on the floor, the driver sitting upon it. Kempfer has given a print representing the manner of using this instrument, Amaen. Exot. p. 682, fig. 3. The wain was much like the former; but had wheels with iron teeth, or edges like a saw: Ferrata carpenta rotis per medium in serrarum modum se volventibus. Hieron. in loc. From this it would seem that the axle was armed with iron teeth or serrated unheels throughout. See a description and print of such a machine used at present in Egypt for the same purpose in Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie, Tab. xvii. p. 123; it moves upon three rollers armed with iron teeth or wheels to cut the straw. In Syria they make use of the drag, constructed in the very same manner as above described; Niebuhr, Description de l'Arabie, p. 140. This not only forced out the grain, but cut the straw in pieces for fodder for the cattle; for in the eastern countries they have no hay. See Harmer's Observ. i. p. 425. The last method is well known from the law of Moses, which "forbids the ox to be muzzled, when he treadeth out the corn; " Deut. xxv. 4.
Matthew Henry Commentary The desolations of Samaria. (Is. 28:1-4) The prosperity of Judah; with reproofs for sinfulness and unbelief. (Is. 28:5-15) Christ is pointe out as the sure Foundation for all believers. (Is. 28:16-22) God' dealings with his people. (Is. 28:23-29)

Is. 28:5-15 The prophet next turns to Judah, whom he calls the residu of his people. Happy are those alone, who glory in the Lord of host himself. Hence his people get wisdom and strength for every service an every conflict. But it is only in ChristJesus that the holy God communicates with sinful man. And whether those that teach are drun with wine, or intoxicated with false doctrines and notions concernin the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah, they not only err themselves but lead multitudes astray. All places where such persons have taugh are filled with errors. For our instruction in the things of God, it is needful that the same precept and the same line should be ofte repeated to us, that we may the better understand them. God, by his word, calls us to what is really for our advantage; the service of God is the only true rest for those weary of the service of sin, and ther is no refreshment but under the easy yoke of the LordJesus. All thi had little effect upon the people. Those who will not understand what is plain, but scorn and despise it as mean and trifling, are justl punished. If we are at peace with God, we have, in effect, made covenant with death; whenever it comes, it cannot do us any rea damage, if we are Christ's. But to think of making death our friend while by sin we are making God our enemy, is absurd. And do not the make lies their refuge who trust in their own righteousness, or to death-bed repentance? which is a resolution to sin no more, when it is no longer in their power to do so.

Is. 28:23-29 The husbandman applies to his calling with pains an prudence, in all the works of it according to their nature. Thus the Lord, who has given men this wisdom, is wonderful in counsel, an excellent in his working. As the occasion requires, he threatens corrects, spares, shows mercy, or executesvengeance. Afflictions ar God's threshing instruments, to loosen us from the world, to par between us and our chaff, and to prepare us for use. God wil proportion them to our strength; they shall be no heavier than there is need. When his end is answered, the trials and sufferings of his people shall cease; his wheat shall be gathered into the garner, but the chaf shall be burned with unquenchablefire __________________________________________________________________